The Grudge - Week Three 490 Times (And Counting) Matthew 18:21-35 When you forgive, you offer the grace you’ve been given.

The Grudge - Letting Go Of Past Hurts In Order to Move ForwardThere are some things that have been hard to forgive during this crisis…

A Big Question: How many times should you forgive someone who has hurt you?

What if the hurt was deep? What if it was more than you could bear?

Do you want to be free? There’s only one way.

WHEN YOU FORGIVE YOU OFFER THE GRACE YOU HAVE BEEN GIVEN

Matthew 18:21-35• How many times should I forgive? Peter offers his answer• Jesus responds by upping Peter’s amount to extravagance• Recalls Genesis 4:23-24 - The Curse of Cain• Sometimes we need to let stories speak for themselves• The servant was probably a CFO—near the top of the pyramid• The king’s grace would have been known by those farther down• 54,750,000 denarii vs. 100 - this is the disparity.• The servant rejects the king’s new economy in favor of the old.• Jesus puts it to the disciples—Which world do you want?• A world based on envy, hatred, violence, retribution…• Or one based on extravagant grace, forgiveness and shalom?

Things we need to know about Forgiveness • Forgiveness is not forgetting• Forgiveness is not fair• Forgiveness is about giving what you have been given•

The question shouldn’t be “How much should I forgive?” It should be “How much do I want to be free? “I choose to forgive—out of faith—because of grace—to be free”

WHEN YOU FORGIVE YOU OFFER THE GRACE YOU HAVE BEEN GIVEN

sermon extras & further reading

FOR FURTHER READING: The Book of Forgiving: The Fourfold Path for Healing Ourselves and Our World Bishop Desmond Tuto

Forgiveness: Finding Peace Through Letting Go Adam Hamilton

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